Lyn made her way over and fingers the material in her hands, this. During one of her first visits to his place in the Sound Kingdom all those years ago.

----

Year 4014 Sound Kingdom

Kazuya's abrupt silence meant she was correct, causing her to sigh deeply. No wonder he caught that cold, it's because he's been returning home in the same conditions as outside. It's the middle of winter; he has to be more careful.

"When you're lecturing me, Princess, it seems like..."

Lyn cut off his foolishness and lectured him, "Moron, stay still. You're still wet," Lyn murmured as she continued drying his hair with a towel. He's foolish, jumping down the river like that, "You cannot protect two things at the same time. If you don't make the decision, you will lose both. That's what I was taught; the amulet is important to me yes. But you didn't have to risk your life like that."

Though she understands that way of thinking, her thoughts broke when Kazuya reached over and touched her cheek with the palm of his hands, "Life, huh? But you're more important to me than my own life. I'd do anything for you," Kazuya spoke with such seriousness that left her speechless.

He's probably only just saying it because of the moment, and she really shouldn't get caught up in the flow of things so easily. However, this is Kazuya. Knowing him, Lyn knew there was a hidden meaning behind his words.

"Are you cold?"

Lyn rolled her eyes, "Now you notice? Normally people would have realized a long time ago."

"Anyone huh," Kazuya stood up and rummaged through the cabinet. Eventually, he pulled out a blanket. Lyn blinks, is he going to give that to her? To her surprise though he wrapped it around himself and pulled her towards him, "Maybe it'll be warmer if we do this?"

"Uwaah, why do we have to resort to this when you're living in such a nice place?"

Kazuya only laughed in response, "Darn, I don't like this either. But I'll put up with it." Lyn couldn't deny that it's warm. Even though she said it like that, she doesn't hate this, being so close to him like this, so close that she could hear his breath and take in his scent.

Feeling the maroon colored haired boy lace their hands with each other. Her gaze softens, "Lyn, your warm," Kazuya murmurs.

"You did this on purpose moron."

------

Back then Lyn was content with it; his arms wrapped her around him so tightly. It was comfortable being with him, and she knew he would always be there.

Rhys noticed her holding the blanket and asked, "Want it?" She looked at him puzzled, "I mean n.o.body uses this place. I'm about to leave too. If there's anything, you want to take it's yours. You can take what you want of his in here. It's better you than anyone else."

In other words, ' he didn't have anyone else but you, who he would want to maintain his possessions.' Thinking about it like that makes it seem like he's dead. Lyn shook her head; he's still alive. Rhys already confirmed it.

As she further scanned the room, the Queen saw more and more possessions of hers that she gave him or possessions with memories. Being locked away in a place like this, for goodness how long and only going outside to collect new material and data. How isolated was his lifestyle? And yet surrounding himself with memories from these last few years. How foolish Kazuya.

It was Kazuya who gave her so so many important memories; he's the one who gave her these feelings. Lyn could honestly say she's happy from the bottom of her heart without hesitating anymore.

Lyn made her way over to his desk and spotted a familiar book and beside it several papers. It's probably just another research doc.u.ment and yet the fact that it remained beside that book. Could it be --? Lyn took the papers in her hands that were clipped together. Ah, so he wrote it here.

She gently stroked the words 'I love you' carefully. How many times has he said those words to her

"Say, Rhys?" Lyn called out.

Rhys had silently waited this whole time and not said a word, which she was grateful for, "Hm?"

"When Kazuya was here and working, what was he like?" Lyn asked.

In this long time period apart from each other, Lyn wonders what sorts of emotions he was feeling — locking himself up in a place like this, where only a single beam of sunlight can go through. In a place that is so isolated like this, exactly what was that person doing? Rhys doesn't respond for a few minutes before he tosses something in her direction.

Lyn catches it, "What's this---" she trails of seeing the photograph.

Despite the dust now covering the wooden frame, Lila knew precisely what it was.

Rhys took a deep breath before he replied, "That guy, was strangely chirper and happy when he was here," at that her eyes went wide. She wasn't expecting that.

For a moment Rhys doesn't speak before he sighed, "Indeed it probably does come out as a surprise. How can anyone be happy leaving the people whom they care about in the dark of everything and leaving behind the girl they love? Being locked in a place like this and having to be secretive whenever he goes out too — only being able to go out at night and not seeing the sunlight. And yet that guy was always smiling happily, he always had that photo out at the center, and all that stuff you just packed up too were items he used quite often. 'As long as I'm surrounded in my memories of Lyn I'll be just fine.' " Rhys informed her.

By this point, the Lyn felt the tears spilling down from her eyes. Truly, why does that person have to be so foolish?

Rhys made his way over and stood in front of her not looking as though he understood that she didn't want him to see, yet standing near enough to act as a source of comfort, "He was always thinking of you. There was never anyone else for him." It must pain Rhys to say these words, but he is still saying them to rea.s.sure her.

Lyn reached over and tugged on the sleeve of his cloak, her head down, "He was foolish," Lyn drawled, "He never thought to fall in love with somebody else, despite being apart from me for so long."

"Somebody else, regarding King Allen, you chose Kazuya over him why?"

Lyn shook her head, "Is there any need to ask? Right now I want to treasure this love. I want to be with Kazuya. The time I spent talking with Allen was fun, and I truly looked forward to it. But when I'm with Kazuya, it's a bit different. It gets difficult for me to breathe, and I become afraid even to speak. But I want to get close to him, so much that I can't help it."

She wants to be near him.

She wants him to touch her.

To hold her tightly, such a painful feeling and intensity of love.